Stop the Traffik

'Stop the Traffik' is a new movement aimed at stopping the world wide slave trade in people. It is the anniversary of the abolition of slavery on 25th Feb. 2007. 'Freedom Day' This is now the second highest earner for organised crime in the world and it needs to be stopped! There will be prayers and witness by 7Oaks youth & churches on Sat 24th Feb. in the morning. It is hoped that as many as can will dress up with T shirts wearing a 'ball and chain' & roped together to walk up and around the High Street. This Traffiking is here in the UK as well, not some distant country, many 'slaves' are women & children. Please put this date in your diaries and try and come, it affects us all. Mr Bee www.stopthetraffik.org

Happy New Year

Youth & Families Minister David Bennie
Newsletter January 2007
Recycle - your printer cartridges & mobile phones. I am still doing this. Just received a cheque for latest batch for £115.20, so don't throw them away, give them to me.
Do You know anyone recently moved into the village or perhaps you have moved here recently? Would they or you like to know about St. Mary’s Church, what we are doing with Youth & Families? Why not give me a call or look at my Blogg.
Worship – Family Praise and Family Service are on 2nd and 4th Sundays respectively. These are both all age services, please come along and join our family in praise to the Lord.
Junior Church – on every 1st & 2nd. Sunday during services- all welcome.
Scarecrows – meets Mondays 4.30-5.30 in the Genner Rooms behind the church. Ages 5 – 9. There is fun, laughter, crafts and stories all based on the bible.
Play & Praise – is a fun service for kids and adults held in the Jessica Hall every Thursday at 3.30pm in term time. This is open to all adults and children of the community so why not pop in. We now have tea & coffee for visitors and would love to see you.
911 – youth club meets on Mondays at 5.30 – 7.00 pm in the Genner Rooms behind the church. This is for children, boys and girls, 9 yrs and up. There is an informal discussion on a bible subject with related fun and games to follow. Give us a try.
Confuzzled – is a teenagers group, which meets on Fridays 5.30-7.00 each week. There is a great deal of fun and laughter together with prayer and fellowship with the Lord. You are most welcome.
Gambia – ' I am going to The Gambia over half term (13th Feb.) with 9 others. We will be visiting a British Nurse who is running a clinic there. She has requested aspirin/paracetamol, vitamins (multi) & toothbrushes (children). If you would like to help with this or in any other way or would just like info about our mission there please contact me. David Bennie 834252'
Youth Forum – if you or anyone you know wants to have more of a say in the village on things that affect you, then join Leigh Youth Forum. New BLOG for your comments http://leighyouthforum.blogspot.com/
Scouts – Centenary Year District Camp 23-26 May Hall Place – Founders Day Party @ Scout Hut 24th February – open to all Uniformed Groups past and present members and their families. Info 834252
David
DETAILS OF ALL YOUTH & FAMILIES WORK ON WEBSITE - http://youthfamiliesministry.blogspot.com
DAVID 01732 834252 EMAIL isdaddyrasta@aol.com

Christmas @ Leigh

Sun. 17th.

4.00pm Christingle
6.30pm Traditional Service of Lessons & Carols
Christmas Eve

8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) - Traditional service
9.30am Holy Communion (CW)
4.00pm Family Carols
5.30pm Family Carols
11.15pm Holy Communion (CW) - candlelit service
Christmas Day

8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) - Traditional service
10.00am Christmas Family Service
Sun. 31

8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) - Traditional service
9.30am Holy Communion (CW)

Scouts this Autumn

Autumn Dates
(finish Community Challenge – do Adventure Challenge)

14 September –diary, crafts and games
21 September – 5-a-side comp.
28 September – Scuba Diving
5 October – Assault Course, Halls Green
12 October – Investiture – cotton reel tanks
19 October – firework programs
26 October – Half Term
2 November – Halloween – wide game (apple bobbin, doughnut rings etc)
9 November – ‘Fire Challenge’ – cooking
16 November – Swimming, Halls Green
17 November - District Sports Evening
23 November – Incident Hike – paper chase
30 November – Skiing @ Bowles
7 December – Games Night – Badge Presentation

Leigh Scouts

7th Tonbridge Scout group

Beavers ~ ages 6-8 meets Mondays
5.30-6.30
Cubs ~ ages 9-10 meets Thursdays
6.00-7.30
Scouts ~ ages 10-15 meets Thursdays
7.30-9.00

All Units meet at The Scout Hut, Kiln Lane.

Canal Trip

9.00am, Saturday morning, the 16th. September, the narrowboat, Narrow Escape, slips its moorings and gently glides over the water to the Nash Mills Lock. 911 youth group sets off on its weekend adventure cruising along the Grand Union Canal. The evening before 9 youth and 3 adult leaders had set off from Leigh Church, full of excitement and some trepidation about the coming trip on the canal boat. It had taken us 2 ½ hours to travel the 72 miles round the M25 to Nash Mills Recreation Centre, Hemel Hempstead. Arriving in the dark it was too late to move off so we settled in the boat, unpacking, sorting out bunks and then sorting out bunks and then sorting out bunks once again, finally tucking in to the sandwiches, cakes and drinks that we had brought with us for the evening. We played a few games and retired to our beds where some of us finally got to sleep around midnight zzzzzzzzzz.
Our Skipper for the weekend was John Bennett, a man of much patience and understanding, who walked our ‘crew’ through the workings of the lock and boat, covering not only the mechanics of getting along, but Do’s and Don’ts regarding health & safety. Having negotiated our first lock the crew settled down only to find that waiting round the first bend was another and they had to jump to once again. This was a pattern that was to repeat itself with ever increasing regulatory as the day wore on. Each member of the team was encouraged by the Skipper to have a go at steering, operating the throttle and generally getting to know and work the whole boat. Our adventure continued throughout Saturday, stopping for lunch break and visits to local parks, and of course the frequent locks. We negotiated an about turn using a rather tight ‘winding hole’ and made our way back late afternoon finally settling down for the night moored close to Fishery Lock, Boxmoor.
Life on a narrowboat is much slower than the pace that life is usually travelled at, conditions are cramped, and you are literally living on top of one another, there is very little privacy on board. Even moving about is an exercise fraught with potential flash points as you get ‘up close and personal’ moving along the narrow passage. There is a lot of ‘give & take’ required for the whole thing to work. I think, really, it is a reflection of life, a challenge for those on board to come together as a team, working together, sharing, caring, pastoring, looking out for each other. There is a lot of co-operation required if the boat is to negotiate the locks safely and move on to its destination without hindrance. Much the same, I guess, as our Church here at Leigh and the community that we are part of.
A rather tired crew made its way back to our starting point at Nash Mills by around 2pm Sunday 17th. There was a little bit of sadness as we went through our last lock and headed for the mooring, but I think a great deal of satisfaction, of accomplishment and achievement, of a job well done!

Alpha Course

The countdown to our Alpha Course has begun. We start with our introductory supper on the 27th September at The Genner Rooms, St. Mary's Church, followed by the start of the course on 4th October. The Wednesday evening course runs for 10 weeks with a meal beginning at 7.30pm followed by a talk and discussion. If you would like to register, know someone who would like to come or just want to no more please contact me.

I thought that this was quite cool, take a look.

I thought that this was quite cool, take a look.
Body: Why do we sleep in church but...when when the sermon is over we suddenly wake up? Why is it so hard to talk about God but so easy to talk about sex? Why are we so bored to look at a Christian magazine..but so easy to read a playboy magazine?.. Why is it so easy to ignore a Godly BEBO messages...yet we repost the nasty ones? Why are churches getting smaller...but bars and clubs are growing??.... Think about it...are you going to repost this or ignore it because you think you'll get laughed at? Just remember God is always watching you.Repost this "dont look if you're under 12"if you truly love God and you know he's always there Jesus said, "If you deny me in front of your friends, I will deny in front of my father"
lizzie

Alpha @ Leigh

This week sees the launch of our publicity campaign for the autumn Alpha course here at Leigh.
400 leaflets will be distributed around the parish inviting people to the Introductory Supper at The Genner Rooms on 27th. September.

An Alpha Prayer Service will be held on 3rd September at 6.30pm

If you would like to be involved, attend the course or know someone who might be interested in knowing more please contact me for more info.

David

Diary Dates

14-18 August - Soul Survivor Camp
2 September - Superstars on The Green
9 September - Youth Forum BBQ
8/9/10 Sept. - Car Parking @ Penshurst
15/16/17 Sept. - 911 Narrowboat Trip
23 September - CRB Training Rochester
27 September - Alpha Introductory Supper
4 October - Alpha Course week 1
4 November - Scouts Firework Display
10/11/12 Nov. - Alpha Weekend Away
18 November - Youth Forum Event
18 November - Nov. Toolbox Training Day
16 December - Village Christmas Party
21-23 Sept. 2007 - Parish Weekend

Fact Sheet

Youth Opportunity Fund & Youth Capital Fund
Are you 13-19 years old?
Well this money is for you!
What’s this all about?
For the next two years the Government is giving £115m to local authorities for two exciting new funds designed to enable you the opportunity to become actively involved in funding and running activities and facilities in your neighbourhood.
So what are these funds for?
Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF)
Each year this fund will divide £31m between all the local authorities to be used for things you would like to do and places you would like to go in your area. This means you will be able to make decisions about how the money should be spent and you can apply for projects and activities that young people would like to do in your area.
Youth Capital Fund (YCF)
Like the YOF local authorities will share £26.5m per year BUT this fund is different because it could help you change and buy new premises for your projects or build a youth space within an existing community.
The two funds have been designed to work together, so you can use the YOF for your activity (project) and use the YCF to buy your premises and equipment needed to run the project.
What’s in this for me?
Improved facilities in your area
You will be deciding what you want in your area
You can bring about positive change for young people
You will be heard by the community
Your efforts will be recognised by the community
Working on these projects will help you gain and develop skills

How do I get involved?
There are three ways you can get involved:
You can be a member of the decision making panel, who will assess the bids coming in and decide who gets the money.
You can come up with ideas of what you would like to do in your area and make an application as a Project Leader
You can participate in the facilities on offer in your area as a result of the funds.
Where do I go now for more information?
For more information about the funds and how you can get involved please contact your local authority.

http://www.leighkent.org.uk

For all info on The Village of Leigh, Kent, England.

http://www.word-on-the-web.co.uk

Daily readings and commentary from the bible emailed direct to you

http://www.kent-pages.co.uk

Kent based directory
we are linked nationally to this

Events @ Youth & Families

Family Weekend
Ashburnham April 2006

'Awesome' Holiday Week
31 July - 4 August
@ Jessica's Hall





Soul Survivor 2006 'In Spirit & in Truth'
We are going on 14 - 18 August
http://www.soulsurvivor.com/uk/events/soulsurvivor05/index.html

911 Narrowboat
Weekend Trip 15-17 September 2006

Parish Weekend - 21-23 September 2007 Herne Bay Court

contact me for info on these and forthcoming events

Children's Groups

Scarecrows ~ Mondays



Junior Church ~ Sundays


Play 'n Praise Midweek Service ~ Thursdays

Youth & Children's Groups

Confuzzled & 911

Summer & Autumn Camps at Halls Green

Mission in Africa

GAMBIA
In 2003 a small party from Leigh went to The Gambia to assist in the support and continued building of a nursery school (circa 2001) in the village of Sinchu Balia.
We took medicines, clothing, shoes and a great deal of LOVE with us in a humble attempt to make a difference in their world.
We found LOVE and a huge amount of SUNSHINE not only in the country but especially in the people of The Gambia .
We went to do 'good' for them. We found ourselves humbled by the richness of their Spirits. We received and hopefully we gave back too.
On the 11th. Feb 2005 we returned to build a new village nursery school where the older children will now be taught.
February 10th. 2006 saw a further expedition return to Sinchu Balia to complete the final phase of the new school and do some much needed urgent repairs to the original school.
If you can help financially or would like to go on future trips, please get in touch with me. Pictures and film of all 3 trips are available together with future plans for support and projects.
Next trip planned for Spring 2007
Contact: Mr B. isdaddyrasta@aol.com

Alpha @ St. Mary's

Alpha Courses @ St. Mary's Church Leigh
What is Alpha ? http://www.alphacourse.org
Next Course
September 27th - December 6th. 2006
Holy Spirit Weekend - 10-12 November
Venue: Genner Rooms ~ All Welcome

contact Mr B. (Administrator)

Newsletter August 2006
Have a Wonderful Summer Holiday
Worship
Family Praise is on 13th. and will celebrate our Holiday Week ‘Awesome’
Family Service is on 27th.
Junior Church
1st & 2nd. Sunday during services- all welcome.
Confuzzled
Will be at Soul Survivor once again this August, with up to 14,000 other young adults.
14 of us are joining with other youth groups from the Sevenoaks area for an amazing Spirit filled week.
Holiday Week
31st July – 4th August.
A week of fun workshops- music, dance, crafts & games. Contact me NOW for registration. Ages 5-11yrs.
Gambia
next trip in March 2007, can you support this, do you want to go? contact me for details.
Youth Forum
BBQ on the Green 7pm 9th September – All Welcome
New BLOG for your comments http://leighyouthforum.blogspot.com/
Mr B.